The 11th round of the Working Mechanism on Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) for India-China Border Affairs was here on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: India and China on Thursday explored variety of CBMs as well as possibility of strengthening cooperation through exchange of visits and institutionalised dialogue mechanisms between the armed forces for peace at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The 11th round of the Working Mechanism on Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) for India-China Border Affairs was here on Thursday. Various confidence building measures aimed at further enhancing the level of mutual trust and understanding between border personnel were discussed. Both sides also agreed to explore the possibility of strengthening cooperation through exchange of visits and institutionalised dialogue mechanisms in order to promote better understanding and cooperation between the two defense forces.

The Indian delegation was led by Pranay Verma, Joint Secretary (East Asia), Ministry of External Affairs, while the Chinese delegation was led by Yi Xianliang, Director General, Department of Boundary & Oceanic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.

The discussions were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. Both sides exchanged views on ways to improve border management. “We underlined that maintenance of peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas is an important pre-requisite for further development of bilateral relations between the two countries,” MEA said in a statement.

WMCC was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination for the maintenance of peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas, as well as to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation, including between their border security personnel. The two sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the WMCC at a mutually convenient time.